Improvement in grain-binders



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3.11. GAMMON, n. H. mm1 &, sur. sTEWARn.

GRAIN-BINDER. No. 192,575. Patented .Tu1y 3,1877.

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i GRAIN-BINDER. No, 192,575, Patented July 3,1877.

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No. 192,575, Patented July 3,1877.

! Illu.. Illlllll.. /xlllin l II-lllllil XVM ELIJAH' H. GAMMON, OFCHICAGO, AND ROBERT H. DIXON AND JOHN F.

STEWARD, OF PLAN O, ASSIGNORS TO ELIJAH H. GAMMON AND WILLIAM DEERING,OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN-BINDERS.

Speciication forming part of Letters Patent No. 192,575, dated July 3,1877 application led May 25, 1877.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, ELIJAH H. GAMMQN, of the city of Chicago, Cookcounty, State of Illinois, and ROBERT H. DIXON and JoHNF. STEWARD, ofPlano, Kendall county, State of Illinois, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Grain-Binders, of which the following is a fulldescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,consisting of four sb eets, in which- Figure l is a top or plan view,showing the receiving platform in position for ordinary binding; Fig. 2,a top or plan view, showing the receiving-platform in position forbinding long grain; Fig. 3, a bottom view of the receiving-platform,with a portion broken away; Fig. 4, a rear view, showing the devices forswinging the platform, and devices for operating the binder; Fig. 5, aside view of the same, with the lower portion of the frame broken away;Fig. 6, a front elevation of the devices for operating the binding andrake arms; Fig. 7, a top or plan view of the same devices, with aportion of the frame broken away; Figs. 8, 9, and l0, details of thestirrup or fra-me for connecting the lever with the receiving-platformand supporting part of the driving devices.

Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and l0 are enlarged.

This invention relates to that class of grainbinders in which the grainis received upon a platform and then bound automatically. In such classof binders it is'necessary that the binding mechanism proper should beso constructed that it can be adjusted to the length of the grain to bebound, and that the grain should be brought in a compact form to thebinding mechanism.

As heretofore constructed, the devices for accomplishing the forward andback adjustment of the binder to the length of the grain have been suchthat the entire binding mechanism would have to be moved forward orback.

It also relates to the machine shown and described in the application ofJohn F. Steward, of even date herewith, to which machine theimprovements described are more particularly applicable.

The object of our invention is to provide a simple and efficient methodof getting the grain from the receptacle to the binding mechanism; toprovide a simple method of bringing the gavel to any required positionin relation to the binding-wire preparatory to receiving the same; toprovide a method for preventing slack wire from paying off the spool asthe needle is withdrawn from the twisting mechanism, and to improve theconstruction and operation of the devices employed. Its nature consistsin arranging the binding-arm so that it will operate in correct relationto the twisting-hook under all circumstances; in

providing a secondary arm or rake mounted on the platform for forcingthe grain forward to the twisting and tying devices; in providing suchrake with a compressor-arm to hold the grain in place while beingcarried to the binder; in locating the spool which carries thebinding-wire upon the secondary arm or rake so that the return movementof the arm will unwind the wire; in the arrangement of devices forswinging thereceiving-platform to adjust it to the length of grain; indevices for operating the binding arm and rake from the same drivingmechanism; and in the several parts and combination of vpartshereinafter described and claimed as new.

In the dra-wings, A represents the main frame; B, the elevator-frame;B', the upper elevator-roller; C, the cross-bars ot' the elevator-frame,on which the drivers platform is secured; C', the drivers platform.

These parts, A, B, B', C,'and C', are of any of the ordinary forms ofconstructing such parts, except that the cross-bars C are extendedsomewhat farther to the rear; and the machine' is to be provided with adrive-wheel, carrier-platform, divider, grain -whe'el, sickle, anddevices for operating the sickle, reel, and other parts, as usual; but,as such parts may be of any well-known form of construction, they arenot shown or described.

D is a pivoted board or cross-bar or platform located above the bars C,as shown, upon which the binding mechanism is mounted, forming the outerportion of the receivingplatform.

D is a metal plate secured to the platform D, and forming the remainingportion of the receiving-platform.

E is an inclined sliding board, connected with the plate Dl by anysuitable means, and located on the elevator frame beneath the roller B.The connection between E and D' must be such that the plate D can passunder the board.

Fis a metal standard or frame, located at the rear end of the platformD, to' which it is rigidly secured. The upper portion of this frame iscurved and bent over and downward,

.so as to form a guard to protect the operating devices located on theframeF, and also to form a support for the needle-arm and rake.

G is a rock-shaft, having its bearingsin the lower end of the curvedportion of F in suitable boxes.

H is a reciprocating needle-arm, secured at its lower end to therock-shaft G by means of a hub, so that the arm can move up and down,and the shaft turn in the said hub.

I is a metal arm or bar, pivoted in the rockshaft G, so that it has botha reciprocating and a horizontal movement.

J is a metal tooth, pointed at its lower end to facilitate its enteringthe grain and permanently or adjustably secured at its upper end, nearthe outer end of the bar I.

ais ametal bar, pivoted at its lower end to the binding-arm H, at apoint a little forward of its connection to the rock-shaft G. The upperend of this bar a is provided with a series ofholes, as shown, foradjusting the movement of the arm.

b is -a straight bar, pivoted at its inner end to the upper end of thebar a, and it is provided at its inner end with a series of holes.

c is a vertical metal bar, pivoted at its lower end to the outer end ofa short lever, e', which lever, at its inner end, is permanently securedto the rock-shaft G. The upper end of this bar c is pivoted to the upperend of the bar a, the same pivot answering for connecting a, b, and c.It is also provided with a series of holes, as shown.

d is a standard or post, suitably secured to the frame F, to the upperend of which the outer end of the bar b is pivoted. e is the enlargedportion of the rock-shaft G. Through an opening in this the arm Ipasses, and in which it is pivoted.

e is the lever, to which the bar c is pivoted at its lower end, whichlever is permanently secured to Gr.

fis a rearward extension of the arm I, forming a crank or lever, bymeans of which motion is imparted to the arms l and H by the wheel S.

g is a socket, formed on, or permanently secured to, the wheel S, inwhich the end of f is inserted.

71, is a metal plate or arm, secured to the tooth J near its top, andextending out at the side thereof', and so arranged that when therake-arm I is down and moving forward it will come in contact with thegrain and prevent it from getting above the point of arm Hwhen deliveredfor binding, and also acts asa compressor.

i is a metal prong or arm, secured to the arm I, back of the tooth J, soarranged that it will enter the grain ou the platform and aid the toothJ in carrying it forward, and also keeping the gavel in line while thegrain is being moved to the binder.

j is the wire-spool, constructed in any of the well-known forms. It issupported upon the rake-arm I by means of a suitable bracket, that maybe made adjustable, to determine the length of wire, and it is soarranged in relation to the twisting-hook that the return movement ofthe rake-arm I will unwind just wire enough to bind a bundle, so that noslack wire is left after the bundle is bound, but the wire is drawn offfrom the sp ol only as it is required for binding the bundle.

k is the pivot on which the receiving-platform is Supported and turned.It is made of considerable diameter, in order to furnish sufcientbearing-surface to keep the platform in position.

k' is a slot on the under side of D, fitting over the top of the pivotk, and serving the purpose of a guide for keeping the platform or tablein position on the pivot.

Z are flanges on the bottom of the pivot k, by means of which it issecured to cross-pieces, which cross-pieces are secured to thecrosspieces C.

m is a plate, secured to the top of one of the flanges l, and projectingout therefrom.

n is a metal plate, secured to the under side of the cross-piece o,which piece is secured beneath the platform D. o is hollowed out on itsfront edge, so that the plate n projects. beyond it, and this plate isso arranged that the plate m comes in contact therewith, and holds thereceiving-platform in place at that point.

The pivot k is so located that the rear end 0f the table or platformdescribes a larger arc than the front, and its location is such, inreference to the point where the binding-arm descends, that iu whicheverdirection the table may be thrown the binding-arm will descend at thesame point.

p is a slot in the table or platform D D, into which the tooth J enterswhen mowing the grain. It is somewhat curved, as shown in Fig. 1. v

p is a slot in the sliding board E, formin a continuation of the slot p,but somewhat wider than the slot lo, to permit the entrance of the toothat the beginning of the forward movement of the rake-arm.

K is a hand-lever, pivoted near or around the shaft of the wheel N, andextending up so that its upper end is within reach of the driver whenmounted on the platform C.

L is a rod, connecting the lever K with the receiving-platform, asshown. One end of this rod is secured to the lever by means of the shaftfor the upper pulley-wheel, and the other end issecured around a collaron the axle of the pulley-wheel on the receiving-platform.

M are ears or bearings secured permanently to the frame or standard E.

N N N are pulley-wheels, by means of which motion is imparted to thebinding and raking devices. The lower wheel N is secured, as shown, to ashaft, which shaft is supported in suitable bearings secured to the mainframe, and to which the lower end of the lever K is connected.

The inner end of this shaft, as shown, is provided with a pinion, whichis to engage with a similar wheel operated from the main or drive wheel,(not shown,) and drives the pulley-wheel N 5 or N may be provided with asuitable crank, through which power may be applied. The pulley-wheel Nis journaled on the lever K, and is provided with two grooves initsface. By locating the axis of the wheel N on the lever K, as shown,any change in the position of the lever will not affect the relativepositions of the pulleywheels when the drive chains or belts are inplace, so that the wheels will operate in whatever position they may beplaced. The pulley-wheel N is located on the receiving-platform on thesame shaft or axle to which the pinion for driving the wheel whichoperates the binding devices is secured.

0 is the driving chain or belt passing over the pulleys N N. v

P is the driving chain or belt passing over thepulleys NN, O being inthe inner groove of the pulley N', and P in the outer.

R is a stirrup or frame, pivoted to the ears M, so that it is free toturn in one direction.

B. is a collar, permanently secured to the stirrnp-piece R, near itscenter, which collar forms a bearing or support for the axle of thepulley-wheel N" and pinion T. By supporting this wheel by means of thestirrup and collar, as shown, when the position of the binder is changed-the position of the pinion will also be changed, so that its teethwill, at all times, be properly engaged.

S is a gear-wheel, suitably journaled to the frame or support F, andthrough which inotion is givento the binding arm and rake, thevrake-armbeing connected therewith, as before described, by means of the socket gand extension f, for this purpose.

T is the pinion for driving the wheel S. Motion is given to this pinionthrough the pulley-wheels N N N, as before described.

g is a link or hook, by means of which the sliding board E andreceiving-platform are connected together. Other devices may be used forthis purpose. Y

r is the twisting-hook, located in a suitable bearing on the platform D,and so arranged in relation to the pivot that it willl remain nearly ina stationary position, its location for this purpose being at or nearthe center of the pivot. This location of the hook must also be suchthat the descent of the needle will bring the binding-wire close enoughto the hook to be grasped thereby.

s is a hole in the point of the needle. The twisting-hook is operated bymeans of a suitable gearing, and a cutter for severing the wire afterthe bundle is bound is to be provided, which cutter is to be so arrangedthat it will sever the wire between the bundle and hook, so as to leavethe main wire coiled around the shank of the hook.

The arrangement of the parts for operating the needle-arm is such that,when the rakearm has made its delivery-movement and commeuced to ascend,the needle-arm will commence to descend, so that when the rake hasraised far enough to clear the gavel to be bound the needle arm hasdescended far enough to take the place of the tooth p, and hold thebundle in position until bound.

By constructing and attaching the rake as shown and described it hasboth a free vertical movement, by means of the rock-shaft Gr, and ahorizontal movement, by means of its pivotal connection, so that onentering the the grain it will be driven straight through, and will cutthe grain off in such a manner that the amount required for a bundlewill be separated entirely from the remainder of the grain, the raketooth p thus serving the purpose of a separator, as well as for carryingthe grain forward to the twisting-hook.

In operation, grain is carried up the eleva- -tor, as usual, and fallsupon the receiving-table D D. The binding-wire passes from the spool jthrough the opening in the point of the needle to the twisting-hook r,where its end is held by being wound around theshank of the twister, orotherwise.'

As shown in Fig. 5, the rake and needle are in the position they occupywhen the bundle is being bound, in which position the extension or arm fof the arm I is at its lowest point, as this f is carried around by themovement of the wheel S. Through its connection therewith, the arm Iwill be carried up and over toward the elevator, and this movement willcontinue until the lever f is carried to its farthest horizontalposition away from the elevator.

Just before the crank f has reached its farthest position the arm I hascommenced to descend, forcing the tooth J through the grain on theplatform, and as the crank is carried still farther around by the wheelS the arm is forced still farther down, and, at the same time, carriedforward, forcing the tooth J farther into the slot Z', and carrying thegrain forward toward the binder. This movement continues until the crankis at its highest point, at which time the tooth J has entered the slotl of the receivingplatform to its greatest depth. This movement willbring the bar L into contact with the grain on the platform, andcompress it so as to facilitate its being carried forward, and alsocompressing it compactly, and so that it can be moved with certainty tothe position for bindward with lts tooth J in the slot l', carrying withit the grain for the bundle on the platform D', and this movement willcontinue until the crank f has reached a horizontal position nearest theelevator, during which movement of the crank the arm I described acircle similar in form to that described by it in its first movement, sothat when the crank has reached a horizontal position opposite to thatfirst described, the arm I has been withdrawn from the slot l, at whichtime the grain for the bundle has been forced against the binding-wire,and carried beyond the line of the twistin g-hook, which operationpartially encircles the bundle by the binding-wire. At the same timethat the rake tooth and arm commence their ascent the needle-armcommences its descent, which movement is accomplished means of the armor lever e', which lever is moved up and down by the movement of therock-shaft Gr, and is so arranged relative to the rake that as the rakeis carried up the lever is carried down, and vice versa, and as thelever is carried down it carries with it the bar c, which carries downthe outer end of arm or lever b, and as the arm a is also pivoted to thelever b this arm is also carried down, which arm, being pivoted at itslower end to the needle-arm, forces such arm down, and these parts areso timed that when the crank f has reached a horizontal position,

' and is ready to descend still farther, the lever e has reached anearly-level position, so that the points of the tooth J and the needleare just above the receivingplatform, and in a line with each other. Asthe rake-arm is carried up the needle-arm is carried down, taking itsposition back of the bundle, keeping the bundle in position, carryingthe binding-wire with it into the opening or slot l, and completing theencircling of the bundle by the wire. When the needle-arm has reachedits lowest point the twisting-hook is put into operation, twisting thetwo strands of wire together, and completing the-binding. The wire isthen to be severed by a suitable cutlter, when the bundle drops upon theground or into a suitable receptacle.

As the needle-arm descends the rake-arm ascends by the movement of thecrank f, as first described, and when the needle has reached itsfarthest point of descent the rake will have been carried up and over tothe carrier ready to descend and carry forward another bundle, duringwhich descent the needle-arm will have ascended ready to pass down andtie the bundle carried forward by the next movement of the rake, andthis operation will be repeated and continue as long as the ma chine iskept in motion.

As the rake-arm ascends it will carry with it the spool j, whichmovement will unwind from the spool the binding-wire, and when the rakehas reached the position where it commences its descent it will haveunwound from the spool just wire enough to encircle the bundle properlyfor binding, which wire will extend from the spool to the twisteroutside of the grain caught by the rake, and as this grain is carriedforward it will strike the bindingwire, forming it into a loop intowhich the grain is forced by action of the rake, as before described.

By thus locating the spool for the bindingwire on an arm independent ofthe needlearm no slack wire is formed to be left after the bundle isbound, and if from any cause there should be no grain on the platformthe movements of the rake will not take any additional wire from thespool after its first movement, as each movement thereafter will unwindno wire, but simply pass that which is already unwound back and forththrough the eedle-eye until it is used for binding a bun- When the leverK is in nearly a perpendicular position the receiving-platform will bein position for ordinary binding. For binding short grain the drivertakes hold of the lever and pulls it toward him, which carries the rearend of the table or platform toward the elevator, and carries the slotsZ and l farther forward, so that the rake will enter the grain at apoint farther forward.

For binding long grain the driver moves the lever away from him, which4carries the rear end of the binding-platform away from the elevator andcarries the slot l l farther back, so that the tooth J will enter thegrain at a point farther back. By this arrangement the rake has a widerange forward and back, and at the same time will bring the grain to thesame point relative to the binding devices.

As shown, the table or receiving-platform is made in two pieces; but itcould be made of one piece, if desired, and the backboard E of thereceiver may be dispensed with in various forms of elevators.

The holes in the curved arms a, c and lever b are for the purpose ofregulating the throw of the needle.

The lever K is held in position by means of the brace-rod Q secured tothe elevator-frame, as shown.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Latent, is t l.The combination of the rake I, tooth J, and slot lwith the arm H,receiver D, and twister 1, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the lever K, bar L, and wheel N with the wheels NN", belts or chains O P, and pivoted frame R, for communicating motionto the binder, and keeping the belts or chains in operation when theposition of the binding devices is changed, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the lever K, connecting-bar L, and pivoted stirrupor frame R with the movable table or receiver D, for changing theposition of the table, substantially as specified.

4. The rake I, 1n combination with a reciprocating needle-arm, H,arranged to descend at the saine time the arm I ascends, and take theplace of I in holding the bundle in position for binding, substantiallyas specified.

5. The combination of the rake-arm I, the spool mounted thereon, thebinder-arm H, and the twister, substantially as specified.

6. The bindingarm H, supported upon the swinging receiver or table D, incombination with a centrally-located twister and a rake, substantiallyas described.

7. The rock-shaft G and lever e', in combination with the arms a b c andstandard d, for operating the binding orv needle arm H in an oppositedirection to the rake-arm, when said rake-arm is rising, substantiallyas ,specied.

8. The yielding finger, in combinationv with the arm I, for preventingthe grain from getting abo ve-the point of the arm H while being carriedforward, substantially as specified.

9. The sliding backboard E, located be-- tween the upper elevator-rollerand the receiver, in combination with av horizontallyswingingreceiving-platform, and a connecting device between said baokboard andplatform for keeping the slots in line, substantial-

